Towns in Isiolo County

Garba Tula: The Ghost of Garba Tula

B9 Road from Isiolo to Wajir travels from the midwest to east across the south-eastern part Isiolo County through Garba Tula, 120 km from Isiolo town. North and south, Garba Tula is linked to two secondary roads; southerly to Kinna via Maua back to Isiolo town, and northerly to Merti and Archer’s Post. The main Garba Tula town sits off the B9 Road. Travelling to this region of Kenya is a challenge for the intransigent intrepid, simply because the road is unpaved – creating uncertainity for any vehicle that is not sturdy. That said, humans are rarer than animals, too.

Between the rainy seasons, that is mid-March to May and between October and November, the northern region of Kenya is transformed into a monotonous and contiguous block of mostly hot and arid vast open plains. Still and all, it lack little in amazing and unfamiliar scenery, with the horizon holding behind it an ever-changing gallery of savanna potraits. Although the title of a town is abit heaped up for Garba Tula, it is a welcome stop for many travellers northbound. Here, you can get stock up on essential suuplies, and, time allowing, meet and greet the folk.

Beyond Garba Tula, the surfeit of aridness endures. Unbroken to the west, the vegetation is dotted by stunted thorn trees, while the eastern plains are covered by grass and bush strewn with thorn trees. Along rivers beds the trees are larger and doum palms are common, especially toward the northeast. The local Borana community who are semi-nomadic, inclined to settle near good water supplies, barely make ends meets. They depend on the animals for food and are famous for their capable management of cattle. Sheep, goats, donkeys, and many camels.

There is a rich history of the community’s cultural practices dating as far back as the 14th century when the Gada system was established. The Gada system serves as a basis for democratic and egalitarian political system under which the power to make and enforce rules is in the hands of the people. The Borana are a legion of the substantial Oromo community found in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia. During colonial administration, Garba Tula town was administered by the District Commissioner of Isiolo, who maintained an office and a rest-house near the town, where the Borana chief was stationed, which to some degree helped it grow.

One of the famous landmarks near the small and out-flung town is Garba Tula High School, a national school managed by the NCCK. The rock hill just outside the town is an iconic landmarks owing to its striking appearances. Also, Garba Tula airstrip is unexpectedly operational and serves both cargo and passenger flights. It is, perhaps, the interludes of it in Wahome Mutahi’s children’s book “The Ghost of Garba Tulla” that gives the town a transcendental familiarity. The eastern part of the unique Merti Plateau lies to the north of the western part of Garba Tula.

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Historic towns around the world offer a glimpse into the past, preserving architecture, culture, and stories from different eras. In Kenya, some of the oldest towns are found along the coast, where medieval trade put on the map long before developments in the hinterland. Among these is Lamu town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its Swahili architecture and cultural traditions.

Index of Relic & Historic Towns Around Kenya



Baringo County - Tambach, Homa Bay County - Old Kendu Bay Town, Isiolo County - Isiolo Town, Garba Tula, Kilifi County - Old Town Takaungu, Mambrui, Kwale County - Old Town Vanga, Vumba Kuu, Kwale, Lamu County - Lamu Old Town, Witu, Shela, Faza, Manda, Mandera County - El Wak, Migori County - Awendo-Sori, Mombasa County - Old Town Mombasa, Nyandarua County - Njabini town, Samburu County - Archer's Post, Tana River County - Old Town Kipini, Wajir County - Old Town Wajir

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Isiolo County, with its strategic location, rich cultural heritage, and potential for development, is a unique region in Kenya. It features a mix of semi-arid and arid landscapes, with some areas of savannah and bushland, and home to several wildlife reserves and conservancies, including the Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Shaba National Reserve and the famed Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

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A Guide to Isiolo County



A Summa Digest of Isiolo

About Isiolo Way Back When

42 Destinations in Isiolo County, arranged as one would visit these - south, north, east then north - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:

Isiolo Town, St. Eusebius Cathedral, Isiolo Jamia Mosque, Isiolo Memorial, Kisimani Eco Resort, Isiolo Falls, Kaita and Degushi Hills, Nyambeni Range, Magado Crater, Cave Dwellings, Harr Girrissa, Mlima Tatu, Kubi Turkana, Garba Tula, Gotu Falls, Gotu Cultural Centre, Biliqo Bulesa Conservancy, Merti Plateau, Merti Catholic Church, Ewaso Nyiro River, Lorian Swamp, Malka Cultural Centre, Bisanadi National Reserve, Kora Wells, Leparua Conservancy, Ol Lentille Conservancy, The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille, Oldonyiro Conservancy, Nantudu Spire Rock, Nasuulu Conservancy, Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Buffalo Springs, Samburu National Reserve, Samburu Simba Lodge, Shaba National Reserve, Sarova Shaba Lodge, Joy’s Camp, Nakuprat Gotu Conservancy, Boji Dera Camp, Sera Conservancy, Isiolo Cultural Festival, Camping in the Great North

Know More About Isiolo County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - with the aid of strip maps, Airports, Climate & National Monuments

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